Wicked has just become the highest-grossing live-action movie of all time featuring an openly LGBTQ+ lead actor, thanks to British actress Cynthia Erivo in the iconic role of Elphaba Thropp. As of December 31, 2024, the film has amassed over $424 million in US box office revenue, securing its position as the 36th highest-grossing movie in domestic markets, according to Box Office Mojo.
Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal is exciting not only for her career but also for the representation of queer talent in prominent roles. The only film to surpass Wicked in terms of featuring an openly LGBTQ+ lead is the animated sequel Finding Dory (2016), which was voiced by the openly gay comedian Ellen DeGeneres. Following closely behind Wicked is Moana 2, another Disney animated sequel, which features Auliʻi Cravalho voicing the main character.
The historic box office success of Wicked signifies a gravity-defying leap for LGBTQ+ representation in cinema, particularly underscoring the growing opportunities for Black talent in lead roles of mainstream projects. The implications of this achievement are profound, as it reflects an evolving landscape in Hollywood where diverse voices and stories are gaining recognition and popularity among audiences.
This remarkable progress was celebrated widely within the community and among advocates for LGBTQ+ representation, who view the success of Wicked as a hopeful indicator of change within the industry. The film’s achievement not only showcases the talents of individual performers like Erivo but also highlights a broader movement towards inclusivity within film narratives.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1262426/ – Corroborates the box office revenue and ranking of the film Wicked, including its domestic and international gross.
- https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/how-cynthia-erivo-drew-on-real-emotional-pain-to-play-elphaba-in-wicked – Provides details about Cynthia Erivo’s role as Elphaba Thropp and her performance in Wicked.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W84ROnKOxqM – Supports the casting of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and the storyline of Wicked, including her character’s development.
- https://www.noahwire.com – Although not directly accessible, this is the source mentioned for the overall context and claims about Wicked’s box office success and LGBTQ+ representation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finding_Dory – Corroborates the information about Finding Dory being the only film to surpass Wicked in terms of featuring an openly LGBTQ+ lead actor.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moana_(2016_film) – Provides context about Moana and its sequel, which is mentioned as another film relevant to the discussion on LGBTQ+ representation.
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262426/ – Supports the details about the film Wicked, including its cast, release date, and box office performance.
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wicked-box-office-record-lgbtq-representation-1235465514/ – Corroborates the historic box office success of Wicked and its impact on LGBTQ+ representation in cinema.
- https://variety.com/2024/film/news/wicked-box-office-lgbtq-representation-cynthia-erivo-1235465514/ – Provides additional context on the significance of Wicked’s success for LGBTQ+ representation and Black talent in Hollywood.
